No. XXXV.
July 9, 1798.
The following popular song is said to be in great vogue among the loyal troops in the North of Ireland. The air and the turn of the composition are highly original. It is attributed (as our correspondent informs us) to a fifer in the Drumballyroney Volunteers.
I.A certain great Statesman[301]whom all of us know,In a certain assembly, no long while ago,Declared from this maxim he never would flinch,“That no town was soloyalas Ballynahinch”.II.The great statesman, it seems, had perused all their faces,And been mightily struck with their loyal grimaces;While each townsman had sung, like a throstle or finch,“We are all of usloyalat Ballynahinch”.III.The great statesman return’d to his speeches and readings;And the Ballynahinchers resumed their proceedings;They had most of them sworn, “We’ll be true to the Frinch,”[302]Soloyala town was this Ballynahinch!IV.Determined their landlord’s fine words to make good,They hid pikes in his haggard, cut staves in his wood;And attack’d the king’s troops—the assertion to clinch,That no town is soloyalas Ballynahinch.V.O! had we but trusted therebels’professions,Met their cannon with smiles, and their pikes with concessions;Tho’ they still took anellwhen we gave them aninch,They would all have beenloyal—like Ballynahinch.
I.A certain great Statesman[301]whom all of us know,In a certain assembly, no long while ago,Declared from this maxim he never would flinch,“That no town was soloyalas Ballynahinch”.II.The great statesman, it seems, had perused all their faces,And been mightily struck with their loyal grimaces;While each townsman had sung, like a throstle or finch,“We are all of usloyalat Ballynahinch”.III.The great statesman return’d to his speeches and readings;And the Ballynahinchers resumed their proceedings;They had most of them sworn, “We’ll be true to the Frinch,”[302]Soloyala town was this Ballynahinch!IV.Determined their landlord’s fine words to make good,They hid pikes in his haggard, cut staves in his wood;And attack’d the king’s troops—the assertion to clinch,That no town is soloyalas Ballynahinch.V.O! had we but trusted therebels’professions,Met their cannon with smiles, and their pikes with concessions;Tho’ they still took anellwhen we gave them aninch,They would all have beenloyal—like Ballynahinch.
I.
I.
A certain great Statesman[301]whom all of us know,In a certain assembly, no long while ago,Declared from this maxim he never would flinch,“That no town was soloyalas Ballynahinch”.
A certain great Statesman[301]whom all of us know,
In a certain assembly, no long while ago,
Declared from this maxim he never would flinch,
“That no town was soloyalas Ballynahinch”.
II.
II.
The great statesman, it seems, had perused all their faces,And been mightily struck with their loyal grimaces;While each townsman had sung, like a throstle or finch,“We are all of usloyalat Ballynahinch”.
The great statesman, it seems, had perused all their faces,
And been mightily struck with their loyal grimaces;
While each townsman had sung, like a throstle or finch,
“We are all of usloyalat Ballynahinch”.
III.
III.
The great statesman return’d to his speeches and readings;And the Ballynahinchers resumed their proceedings;They had most of them sworn, “We’ll be true to the Frinch,”[302]Soloyala town was this Ballynahinch!
The great statesman return’d to his speeches and readings;
And the Ballynahinchers resumed their proceedings;
They had most of them sworn, “We’ll be true to the Frinch,”[302]
Soloyala town was this Ballynahinch!
IV.
IV.
Determined their landlord’s fine words to make good,They hid pikes in his haggard, cut staves in his wood;And attack’d the king’s troops—the assertion to clinch,That no town is soloyalas Ballynahinch.
Determined their landlord’s fine words to make good,
They hid pikes in his haggard, cut staves in his wood;
And attack’d the king’s troops—the assertion to clinch,
That no town is soloyalas Ballynahinch.
V.
V.
O! had we but trusted therebels’professions,Met their cannon with smiles, and their pikes with concessions;Tho’ they still took anellwhen we gave them aninch,They would all have beenloyal—like Ballynahinch.
O! had we but trusted therebels’professions,
Met their cannon with smiles, and their pikes with concessions;
Tho’ they still took anellwhen we gave them aninch,
They would all have beenloyal—like Ballynahinch.
Viri Eruditi,
Viri Eruditi,
Viri Eruditi,
Viri Eruditi,
Si vobis hocce poematium, de navali laude Britanniæ, paucis annis ante conscriptum, nuperrimè recensitum atque emendatum, forté arrideat, quærite in proximis vestris tabulis locum quendam secretum atque securum, ubi repositum suâ sorte perfruatur. Quod si in me hanc gratiam contuleritis, devinctus vobis ero et astrictus beneficio.
Etonensis.
Etonensis.
Etonensis.
Etonensis.
Successu si freta brevi, fatisque secundis,Europæ sub pace vetet requiescere gentes,Inque dies ruat ulteriús furialibus armisGallia, tota instans à sedibus eruere imisFundamenta, quibus cultæ Commercia vitæFirmant se subnixa;—tuisne,Britannia, regnisEcquid ab hoste times; dum te tua saxa tuentur,Dum pelagus te vorticibus spumantibus ambit?Tu medio stabilita mari, atque ingentibus undisCincta sedes; nec tu angusto, Vulcania tanquamTrinacris, interclusa sinu; nec faucibus arctisSepta freti brevis, impositisque coercita claustris.Liberiora Tibi spatia, et porrecta sine ulloLimite regna patent (quanto neque maxima quondamCarthago, aut Phœnissa Tyros, ditissima tellusFloruit imperio) confiniaque ultima mundi.Ergone formidabis adhuc, ne se inferat olim,Et campis impuné tuis superingruat hostis?Usque adeone parúm est, quod laté litora cernasPræruptisturrita jugis, protentaque longoCircuitu, et tutos passim præbentia portus?Præsertim australes ad aquas, Damnoniaque arva,Aut ubi Vecta viret, secessusque insula fidosEfficit objectu laterum; saxosave DubrisVelivolum laté pelagus, camposque liquentesAeria, adversasque aspectat desuper oras.Nec levibus sanè auguriis, aut omine nulloAuguror hinc fore perpetuum per secula nomen:Dum nautis tam firma tuis, tam prodiga vitæPectora, inexpletâ succensa cupidine famæ,Nec turpi flectenda metu; dum maxima quercus,Majestate excelsa suâ, atque ingentibus umbris,Erigitur, vasto nodosa atque aspera trunco;Silvarum regina. Hæc formidabilis olimNoctem inter mediam nimborum, hyemesque sonantes,Ardua se attollit super æquora; quam neque fluctûsSpumosi attenuat furor, aut violentia ventiFrangere, et in medio potis est disrumpere ponto.Viribus his innixa, saloque accincta frementi,Tu media inter bella sedes; ignara malorum,Quæ tolerant obsessæ urbes, cúm jam hostica clausasFulminat ad portas acies, vallataque circúmCastra locat, sævisque aditus circumsidet armis.Talia sunt tibi perpetuæ fundamina famæ,Ante alias diis cara,Britannia! Prælia cernoInclyta, perpetuos testes quid maxima victrix,Quid possis preclara tuo, maris arbitra, ponto.Hæc inter, sanctas æternâ laude calendasServandas recolo, quibus illa, immane minataGentibus excidium, totum grassata per orbemAusaque jam imperiis intactum amplectier æquor,Illa odiis lymphata, et libertate recentiGallia, disjectam ferali funere classemIndoluit devicta, et non reparabile vulnus.Tempore quo instructas vidit longo ordine puppesRostratâ certare acie, et concurrere ad arma,Ætheraque impulsu tremere, Uxantisque per undasLugubre lumen agi, atque rubentem fulgere fumum.Cerno triumphatas acies, quo temporeIberûmDisjectos fastus, lacerisque aplustria velisHorruit Oceanus:—quali formidine GadesIntremere, ut fractâ classem se mole moventemHospitium petere, et portus videre relictos!Quid referam, nobis quæ nuper adorea risit,Te rursús superante, die quo decolor ibatSanguineBelgarumRhenus, fluctusque minoresVolvebat, frustra indignans polluta cruoreOstia, et Angliaco tremefactas fulmine rupes.Cerno pias ædes procúl, et regalia quondamAtria, cæruleis quæ preterlabitur undisVelivolus Thamesis; materno ubi denique nautasExcipis amplexu, virtus quoscumque virilisPer pelagi impulerit discrimina, quælibet ausosPro Patriâ. Híc rude donantur, dulcique senescuntHospitio emeriti, placidâque quiete potitiVulnera præteritos jactant testantia casus.Macte ideó decus Oceani! macte omne per ævumVictrix, æquoreo stabilitaBritanniaregno!Litoribusque tuis ne propugnacula tantúmPræsidio fore, nec saxi munimina credas,Nec tantúm quæ mille acies in utrumque parantur,Aut patriam tutari, aut non superesse cadenti;Invictæ quantúm metuenda tonitruaClassis,AngliacæClassis;—quæ majestate verendâUltrix, inconcussa, diú dominabitur orbi,Hostibus invidiosa tuis, et sæpe triumphisNobilitata novis, pelagi Regina subacti.
Successu si freta brevi, fatisque secundis,Europæ sub pace vetet requiescere gentes,Inque dies ruat ulteriús furialibus armisGallia, tota instans à sedibus eruere imisFundamenta, quibus cultæ Commercia vitæFirmant se subnixa;—tuisne,Britannia, regnisEcquid ab hoste times; dum te tua saxa tuentur,Dum pelagus te vorticibus spumantibus ambit?Tu medio stabilita mari, atque ingentibus undisCincta sedes; nec tu angusto, Vulcania tanquamTrinacris, interclusa sinu; nec faucibus arctisSepta freti brevis, impositisque coercita claustris.Liberiora Tibi spatia, et porrecta sine ulloLimite regna patent (quanto neque maxima quondamCarthago, aut Phœnissa Tyros, ditissima tellusFloruit imperio) confiniaque ultima mundi.Ergone formidabis adhuc, ne se inferat olim,Et campis impuné tuis superingruat hostis?Usque adeone parúm est, quod laté litora cernasPræruptisturrita jugis, protentaque longoCircuitu, et tutos passim præbentia portus?Præsertim australes ad aquas, Damnoniaque arva,Aut ubi Vecta viret, secessusque insula fidosEfficit objectu laterum; saxosave DubrisVelivolum laté pelagus, camposque liquentesAeria, adversasque aspectat desuper oras.Nec levibus sanè auguriis, aut omine nulloAuguror hinc fore perpetuum per secula nomen:Dum nautis tam firma tuis, tam prodiga vitæPectora, inexpletâ succensa cupidine famæ,Nec turpi flectenda metu; dum maxima quercus,Majestate excelsa suâ, atque ingentibus umbris,Erigitur, vasto nodosa atque aspera trunco;Silvarum regina. Hæc formidabilis olimNoctem inter mediam nimborum, hyemesque sonantes,Ardua se attollit super æquora; quam neque fluctûsSpumosi attenuat furor, aut violentia ventiFrangere, et in medio potis est disrumpere ponto.Viribus his innixa, saloque accincta frementi,Tu media inter bella sedes; ignara malorum,Quæ tolerant obsessæ urbes, cúm jam hostica clausasFulminat ad portas acies, vallataque circúmCastra locat, sævisque aditus circumsidet armis.Talia sunt tibi perpetuæ fundamina famæ,Ante alias diis cara,Britannia! Prælia cernoInclyta, perpetuos testes quid maxima victrix,Quid possis preclara tuo, maris arbitra, ponto.Hæc inter, sanctas æternâ laude calendasServandas recolo, quibus illa, immane minataGentibus excidium, totum grassata per orbemAusaque jam imperiis intactum amplectier æquor,Illa odiis lymphata, et libertate recentiGallia, disjectam ferali funere classemIndoluit devicta, et non reparabile vulnus.Tempore quo instructas vidit longo ordine puppesRostratâ certare acie, et concurrere ad arma,Ætheraque impulsu tremere, Uxantisque per undasLugubre lumen agi, atque rubentem fulgere fumum.Cerno triumphatas acies, quo temporeIberûmDisjectos fastus, lacerisque aplustria velisHorruit Oceanus:—quali formidine GadesIntremere, ut fractâ classem se mole moventemHospitium petere, et portus videre relictos!Quid referam, nobis quæ nuper adorea risit,Te rursús superante, die quo decolor ibatSanguineBelgarumRhenus, fluctusque minoresVolvebat, frustra indignans polluta cruoreOstia, et Angliaco tremefactas fulmine rupes.Cerno pias ædes procúl, et regalia quondamAtria, cæruleis quæ preterlabitur undisVelivolus Thamesis; materno ubi denique nautasExcipis amplexu, virtus quoscumque virilisPer pelagi impulerit discrimina, quælibet ausosPro Patriâ. Híc rude donantur, dulcique senescuntHospitio emeriti, placidâque quiete potitiVulnera præteritos jactant testantia casus.Macte ideó decus Oceani! macte omne per ævumVictrix, æquoreo stabilitaBritanniaregno!Litoribusque tuis ne propugnacula tantúmPræsidio fore, nec saxi munimina credas,Nec tantúm quæ mille acies in utrumque parantur,Aut patriam tutari, aut non superesse cadenti;Invictæ quantúm metuenda tonitruaClassis,AngliacæClassis;—quæ majestate verendâUltrix, inconcussa, diú dominabitur orbi,Hostibus invidiosa tuis, et sæpe triumphisNobilitata novis, pelagi Regina subacti.
Successu si freta brevi, fatisque secundis,Europæ sub pace vetet requiescere gentes,Inque dies ruat ulteriús furialibus armisGallia, tota instans à sedibus eruere imisFundamenta, quibus cultæ Commercia vitæFirmant se subnixa;—tuisne,Britannia, regnisEcquid ab hoste times; dum te tua saxa tuentur,Dum pelagus te vorticibus spumantibus ambit?
Successu si freta brevi, fatisque secundis,
Europæ sub pace vetet requiescere gentes,
Inque dies ruat ulteriús furialibus armis
Gallia, tota instans à sedibus eruere imis
Fundamenta, quibus cultæ Commercia vitæ
Firmant se subnixa;—tuisne,Britannia, regnis
Ecquid ab hoste times; dum te tua saxa tuentur,
Dum pelagus te vorticibus spumantibus ambit?
Tu medio stabilita mari, atque ingentibus undisCincta sedes; nec tu angusto, Vulcania tanquamTrinacris, interclusa sinu; nec faucibus arctisSepta freti brevis, impositisque coercita claustris.Liberiora Tibi spatia, et porrecta sine ulloLimite regna patent (quanto neque maxima quondamCarthago, aut Phœnissa Tyros, ditissima tellusFloruit imperio) confiniaque ultima mundi.
Tu medio stabilita mari, atque ingentibus undis
Cincta sedes; nec tu angusto, Vulcania tanquam
Trinacris, interclusa sinu; nec faucibus arctis
Septa freti brevis, impositisque coercita claustris.
Liberiora Tibi spatia, et porrecta sine ullo
Limite regna patent (quanto neque maxima quondam
Carthago, aut Phœnissa Tyros, ditissima tellus
Floruit imperio) confiniaque ultima mundi.
Ergone formidabis adhuc, ne se inferat olim,Et campis impuné tuis superingruat hostis?Usque adeone parúm est, quod laté litora cernasPræruptisturrita jugis, protentaque longoCircuitu, et tutos passim præbentia portus?Præsertim australes ad aquas, Damnoniaque arva,Aut ubi Vecta viret, secessusque insula fidosEfficit objectu laterum; saxosave DubrisVelivolum laté pelagus, camposque liquentesAeria, adversasque aspectat desuper oras.
Ergone formidabis adhuc, ne se inferat olim,
Et campis impuné tuis superingruat hostis?
Usque adeone parúm est, quod laté litora cernas
Præruptisturrita jugis, protentaque longo
Circuitu, et tutos passim præbentia portus?
Præsertim australes ad aquas, Damnoniaque arva,
Aut ubi Vecta viret, secessusque insula fidos
Efficit objectu laterum; saxosave Dubris
Velivolum laté pelagus, camposque liquentes
Aeria, adversasque aspectat desuper oras.
Nec levibus sanè auguriis, aut omine nulloAuguror hinc fore perpetuum per secula nomen:Dum nautis tam firma tuis, tam prodiga vitæPectora, inexpletâ succensa cupidine famæ,Nec turpi flectenda metu; dum maxima quercus,Majestate excelsa suâ, atque ingentibus umbris,Erigitur, vasto nodosa atque aspera trunco;Silvarum regina. Hæc formidabilis olimNoctem inter mediam nimborum, hyemesque sonantes,Ardua se attollit super æquora; quam neque fluctûsSpumosi attenuat furor, aut violentia ventiFrangere, et in medio potis est disrumpere ponto.
Nec levibus sanè auguriis, aut omine nullo
Auguror hinc fore perpetuum per secula nomen:
Dum nautis tam firma tuis, tam prodiga vitæ
Pectora, inexpletâ succensa cupidine famæ,
Nec turpi flectenda metu; dum maxima quercus,
Majestate excelsa suâ, atque ingentibus umbris,
Erigitur, vasto nodosa atque aspera trunco;
Silvarum regina. Hæc formidabilis olim
Noctem inter mediam nimborum, hyemesque sonantes,
Ardua se attollit super æquora; quam neque fluctûs
Spumosi attenuat furor, aut violentia venti
Frangere, et in medio potis est disrumpere ponto.
Viribus his innixa, saloque accincta frementi,Tu media inter bella sedes; ignara malorum,Quæ tolerant obsessæ urbes, cúm jam hostica clausasFulminat ad portas acies, vallataque circúmCastra locat, sævisque aditus circumsidet armis.
Viribus his innixa, saloque accincta frementi,
Tu media inter bella sedes; ignara malorum,
Quæ tolerant obsessæ urbes, cúm jam hostica clausas
Fulminat ad portas acies, vallataque circúm
Castra locat, sævisque aditus circumsidet armis.
Talia sunt tibi perpetuæ fundamina famæ,Ante alias diis cara,Britannia! Prælia cernoInclyta, perpetuos testes quid maxima victrix,Quid possis preclara tuo, maris arbitra, ponto.
Talia sunt tibi perpetuæ fundamina famæ,
Ante alias diis cara,Britannia! Prælia cerno
Inclyta, perpetuos testes quid maxima victrix,
Quid possis preclara tuo, maris arbitra, ponto.
Hæc inter, sanctas æternâ laude calendasServandas recolo, quibus illa, immane minataGentibus excidium, totum grassata per orbemAusaque jam imperiis intactum amplectier æquor,Illa odiis lymphata, et libertate recentiGallia, disjectam ferali funere classemIndoluit devicta, et non reparabile vulnus.Tempore quo instructas vidit longo ordine puppesRostratâ certare acie, et concurrere ad arma,Ætheraque impulsu tremere, Uxantisque per undasLugubre lumen agi, atque rubentem fulgere fumum.
Hæc inter, sanctas æternâ laude calendas
Servandas recolo, quibus illa, immane minata
Gentibus excidium, totum grassata per orbem
Ausaque jam imperiis intactum amplectier æquor,
Illa odiis lymphata, et libertate recenti
Gallia, disjectam ferali funere classem
Indoluit devicta, et non reparabile vulnus.
Tempore quo instructas vidit longo ordine puppes
Rostratâ certare acie, et concurrere ad arma,
Ætheraque impulsu tremere, Uxantisque per undas
Lugubre lumen agi, atque rubentem fulgere fumum.
Cerno triumphatas acies, quo temporeIberûmDisjectos fastus, lacerisque aplustria velisHorruit Oceanus:—quali formidine GadesIntremere, ut fractâ classem se mole moventemHospitium petere, et portus videre relictos!
Cerno triumphatas acies, quo temporeIberûm
Disjectos fastus, lacerisque aplustria velis
Horruit Oceanus:—quali formidine Gades
Intremere, ut fractâ classem se mole moventem
Hospitium petere, et portus videre relictos!
Quid referam, nobis quæ nuper adorea risit,Te rursús superante, die quo decolor ibatSanguineBelgarumRhenus, fluctusque minoresVolvebat, frustra indignans polluta cruoreOstia, et Angliaco tremefactas fulmine rupes.
Quid referam, nobis quæ nuper adorea risit,
Te rursús superante, die quo decolor ibat
SanguineBelgarumRhenus, fluctusque minores
Volvebat, frustra indignans polluta cruore
Ostia, et Angliaco tremefactas fulmine rupes.
Cerno pias ædes procúl, et regalia quondamAtria, cæruleis quæ preterlabitur undisVelivolus Thamesis; materno ubi denique nautasExcipis amplexu, virtus quoscumque virilisPer pelagi impulerit discrimina, quælibet ausosPro Patriâ. Híc rude donantur, dulcique senescuntHospitio emeriti, placidâque quiete potitiVulnera præteritos jactant testantia casus.
Cerno pias ædes procúl, et regalia quondam
Atria, cæruleis quæ preterlabitur undis
Velivolus Thamesis; materno ubi denique nautas
Excipis amplexu, virtus quoscumque virilis
Per pelagi impulerit discrimina, quælibet ausos
Pro Patriâ. Híc rude donantur, dulcique senescunt
Hospitio emeriti, placidâque quiete potiti
Vulnera præteritos jactant testantia casus.
Macte ideó decus Oceani! macte omne per ævumVictrix, æquoreo stabilitaBritanniaregno!Litoribusque tuis ne propugnacula tantúmPræsidio fore, nec saxi munimina credas,Nec tantúm quæ mille acies in utrumque parantur,Aut patriam tutari, aut non superesse cadenti;Invictæ quantúm metuenda tonitruaClassis,AngliacæClassis;—quæ majestate verendâUltrix, inconcussa, diú dominabitur orbi,Hostibus invidiosa tuis, et sæpe triumphisNobilitata novis, pelagi Regina subacti.
Macte ideó decus Oceani! macte omne per ævum
Victrix, æquoreo stabilitaBritanniaregno!
Litoribusque tuis ne propugnacula tantúm
Præsidio fore, nec saxi munimina credas,
Nec tantúm quæ mille acies in utrumque parantur,
Aut patriam tutari, aut non superesse cadenti;
Invictæ quantúm metuenda tonitruaClassis,
AngliacæClassis;—quæ majestate verendâ
Ultrix, inconcussa, diú dominabitur orbi,
Hostibus invidiosa tuis, et sæpe triumphis
Nobilitata novis, pelagi Regina subacti.
By the late A. F. Westmacott, Esq.
By the late A. F. Westmacott, Esq.
By the late A. F. Westmacott, Esq.
Men of Learning,
Men of Learning,
Men of Learning,
Men of Learning,
If by chance the following little poem, on the naval glory of Britain, written a few years since, and very lately revised and corrected, please you, look in your nearest tablets for some private and secure place, where it may be placed to enjoy its good fortune. Should you confer on me this favour, I shall be bound to you by the obligation of your kindness.
Etonian.
Etonian.
Etonian.
Etonian.
ON THE NAVAL GLORY OF BRITAIN.
ON THE NAVAL GLORY OF BRITAIN.
ON THE NAVAL GLORY OF BRITAIN.
If buoy’d by short success and fav’ring chance,Wide Europe’s peace-destroyer, restless France,Each day still onward rush with fresh alarms,And threaten ruin with her furious arms;Ruin to all whereon is based the throneThat life’s sweet charities have made their own;Fearest thou, Britain, for thy rock-girt realm,With seas that foam around and whirlpools to o’erwhelm?Still in the midst of ocean firmly placed,Circled by mighty waves thy seat is based!Not by a strait enclosed, as that fair soilWhere Fabled Vulcan plies his fiery toil;Within no narrow bay thy waters roll,No yawning gulf, no barrier rocks control.Wider thy space, thy realm no limit knows,Not Tyre so rich, not Tyrian Carthage rose.Wilt thou yet fear, lest here the haughty foe,Thy fields o’er-run, and still unpunished go!Is it then nought to view th’ extended strandO’er which stern crags like beetling turrets stand,And countless ports in safe embrace expand?Look to thy southern waves, to Devon’s fields,Or where green Vectis[304]trusty harbour yields,Spreading her friendly arms; or Dover’s heightLooks on the sea with widespread canvas white,And, perched on high, the liquid plain surveys,And adverse cliffs that bound the wat’ry ways.Not by vague augury, nor omen slight,I view thy name through endless ages bright;While thy firm crews still prodigal of lifeInsatiate burn for fame and dare the strife.No coward fear they know, while stands erectThe mighty oak with boughs umbrageous decked;Majestic, high, with knotted trunk, the QueenOf woods! Hereafter, o’er the waters seen’Mid the dim midnight of the sounding stormAloft ’twill rear the terrors of its form;In vain the roaring surges round it break,In vain the winds their uncurbed vengeance wreak,Throned on such pow’rs, surrounded by the sea,The circling waves have scarce one fear for thee.Thou know’st not ills that towns besieged await,When hostile columns thunder at the gate;Pitch their dread camp with fatal ramparts round,And with fierce arms enclose the leaguered ground.Such is to thee the base of lasting fame,To Heav’n Britannia still the dearest name!Gladly I view the glories of the fight,Perpetual witnesses of deathless might,To show, bright conqueress, nations yet to be,What dared, what did the mistress of the sea.’Mid these the day with praise eternal blestEarns memory’s tribute most, when, direful pest,Denouncing ruin to the world, while sheDared grasp the sceptre of the unconquer’d sea,Wild with new license, mad with hatred’s heatFrance, grieved and humbled, viewed her ruined fleet!Saw how all hopes one fatal wound could marWhen well-manned squadrons armed their prows for war!When the sky trembled, and o’er Ushant’s tideRed glared the smoke and sickly light supplied.I see the conquered lines, what time proud SpainWith tattered sailcloths thickly strewed the main;How Cadiz quailed when back the shattered fleetSought, in the port it left, a safe retreat.Why should I tell what smile of Vict’ry beamed,When Rhine’s fair wave with Belgic slaughter gleamed;When humbled waters tow’rds the sea it sped,Mad that its mouths with native blood were red,While England’s thunders rolled above its rocky bed?I see afar the domes that crown the tide,Where Thames uncounted sails in triumph glide:Here, the brave souls whom manly courage droveThrough the deep’s perils in a holy loveOf country, find in thy maternal breastTheir toil rewarded and their daring blest!Dismissed at length from duty nobly doneThey wane in quiet ’neath the noontide sun,Recal the dangers of their byegone wars,And boast appealing to their manhood’s scars.On in thy race of glory, conqueress, on!For every age thy sea-girt realm is won!Think not the fortress which thy shores uprear,Nor thy rock bulwarks shall inspire such fear,Nor the brave thousands who obey thy call,With thee to rise, or not survive thy fall,As the dread thunders of that untamed host:Thy fleet, Britannia, is thy proudest boast;Awful, majestic, firm; its flag unfurl’dShall long wave lordly o’er the conquered world;Hateful to foes for triumphs yet to be,The rightful Sovereign of the subject sea.—Ed.]
If buoy’d by short success and fav’ring chance,Wide Europe’s peace-destroyer, restless France,Each day still onward rush with fresh alarms,And threaten ruin with her furious arms;Ruin to all whereon is based the throneThat life’s sweet charities have made their own;Fearest thou, Britain, for thy rock-girt realm,With seas that foam around and whirlpools to o’erwhelm?Still in the midst of ocean firmly placed,Circled by mighty waves thy seat is based!Not by a strait enclosed, as that fair soilWhere Fabled Vulcan plies his fiery toil;Within no narrow bay thy waters roll,No yawning gulf, no barrier rocks control.Wider thy space, thy realm no limit knows,Not Tyre so rich, not Tyrian Carthage rose.Wilt thou yet fear, lest here the haughty foe,Thy fields o’er-run, and still unpunished go!Is it then nought to view th’ extended strandO’er which stern crags like beetling turrets stand,And countless ports in safe embrace expand?Look to thy southern waves, to Devon’s fields,Or where green Vectis[304]trusty harbour yields,Spreading her friendly arms; or Dover’s heightLooks on the sea with widespread canvas white,And, perched on high, the liquid plain surveys,And adverse cliffs that bound the wat’ry ways.Not by vague augury, nor omen slight,I view thy name through endless ages bright;While thy firm crews still prodigal of lifeInsatiate burn for fame and dare the strife.No coward fear they know, while stands erectThe mighty oak with boughs umbrageous decked;Majestic, high, with knotted trunk, the QueenOf woods! Hereafter, o’er the waters seen’Mid the dim midnight of the sounding stormAloft ’twill rear the terrors of its form;In vain the roaring surges round it break,In vain the winds their uncurbed vengeance wreak,Throned on such pow’rs, surrounded by the sea,The circling waves have scarce one fear for thee.Thou know’st not ills that towns besieged await,When hostile columns thunder at the gate;Pitch their dread camp with fatal ramparts round,And with fierce arms enclose the leaguered ground.Such is to thee the base of lasting fame,To Heav’n Britannia still the dearest name!Gladly I view the glories of the fight,Perpetual witnesses of deathless might,To show, bright conqueress, nations yet to be,What dared, what did the mistress of the sea.’Mid these the day with praise eternal blestEarns memory’s tribute most, when, direful pest,Denouncing ruin to the world, while sheDared grasp the sceptre of the unconquer’d sea,Wild with new license, mad with hatred’s heatFrance, grieved and humbled, viewed her ruined fleet!Saw how all hopes one fatal wound could marWhen well-manned squadrons armed their prows for war!When the sky trembled, and o’er Ushant’s tideRed glared the smoke and sickly light supplied.I see the conquered lines, what time proud SpainWith tattered sailcloths thickly strewed the main;How Cadiz quailed when back the shattered fleetSought, in the port it left, a safe retreat.Why should I tell what smile of Vict’ry beamed,When Rhine’s fair wave with Belgic slaughter gleamed;When humbled waters tow’rds the sea it sped,Mad that its mouths with native blood were red,While England’s thunders rolled above its rocky bed?I see afar the domes that crown the tide,Where Thames uncounted sails in triumph glide:Here, the brave souls whom manly courage droveThrough the deep’s perils in a holy loveOf country, find in thy maternal breastTheir toil rewarded and their daring blest!Dismissed at length from duty nobly doneThey wane in quiet ’neath the noontide sun,Recal the dangers of their byegone wars,And boast appealing to their manhood’s scars.On in thy race of glory, conqueress, on!For every age thy sea-girt realm is won!Think not the fortress which thy shores uprear,Nor thy rock bulwarks shall inspire such fear,Nor the brave thousands who obey thy call,With thee to rise, or not survive thy fall,As the dread thunders of that untamed host:Thy fleet, Britannia, is thy proudest boast;Awful, majestic, firm; its flag unfurl’dShall long wave lordly o’er the conquered world;Hateful to foes for triumphs yet to be,The rightful Sovereign of the subject sea.—Ed.]
If buoy’d by short success and fav’ring chance,Wide Europe’s peace-destroyer, restless France,Each day still onward rush with fresh alarms,And threaten ruin with her furious arms;Ruin to all whereon is based the throneThat life’s sweet charities have made their own;Fearest thou, Britain, for thy rock-girt realm,With seas that foam around and whirlpools to o’erwhelm?
If buoy’d by short success and fav’ring chance,
Wide Europe’s peace-destroyer, restless France,
Each day still onward rush with fresh alarms,
And threaten ruin with her furious arms;
Ruin to all whereon is based the throne
That life’s sweet charities have made their own;
Fearest thou, Britain, for thy rock-girt realm,
With seas that foam around and whirlpools to o’erwhelm?
Still in the midst of ocean firmly placed,Circled by mighty waves thy seat is based!Not by a strait enclosed, as that fair soilWhere Fabled Vulcan plies his fiery toil;Within no narrow bay thy waters roll,No yawning gulf, no barrier rocks control.Wider thy space, thy realm no limit knows,Not Tyre so rich, not Tyrian Carthage rose.Wilt thou yet fear, lest here the haughty foe,Thy fields o’er-run, and still unpunished go!Is it then nought to view th’ extended strandO’er which stern crags like beetling turrets stand,And countless ports in safe embrace expand?Look to thy southern waves, to Devon’s fields,Or where green Vectis[304]trusty harbour yields,Spreading her friendly arms; or Dover’s heightLooks on the sea with widespread canvas white,And, perched on high, the liquid plain surveys,And adverse cliffs that bound the wat’ry ways.
Still in the midst of ocean firmly placed,
Circled by mighty waves thy seat is based!
Not by a strait enclosed, as that fair soil
Where Fabled Vulcan plies his fiery toil;
Within no narrow bay thy waters roll,
No yawning gulf, no barrier rocks control.
Wider thy space, thy realm no limit knows,
Not Tyre so rich, not Tyrian Carthage rose.
Wilt thou yet fear, lest here the haughty foe,
Thy fields o’er-run, and still unpunished go!
Is it then nought to view th’ extended strand
O’er which stern crags like beetling turrets stand,
And countless ports in safe embrace expand?
Look to thy southern waves, to Devon’s fields,
Or where green Vectis[304]trusty harbour yields,
Spreading her friendly arms; or Dover’s height
Looks on the sea with widespread canvas white,
And, perched on high, the liquid plain surveys,
And adverse cliffs that bound the wat’ry ways.
Not by vague augury, nor omen slight,I view thy name through endless ages bright;While thy firm crews still prodigal of lifeInsatiate burn for fame and dare the strife.No coward fear they know, while stands erectThe mighty oak with boughs umbrageous decked;Majestic, high, with knotted trunk, the QueenOf woods! Hereafter, o’er the waters seen’Mid the dim midnight of the sounding stormAloft ’twill rear the terrors of its form;In vain the roaring surges round it break,In vain the winds their uncurbed vengeance wreak,Throned on such pow’rs, surrounded by the sea,The circling waves have scarce one fear for thee.Thou know’st not ills that towns besieged await,When hostile columns thunder at the gate;Pitch their dread camp with fatal ramparts round,And with fierce arms enclose the leaguered ground.
Not by vague augury, nor omen slight,
I view thy name through endless ages bright;
While thy firm crews still prodigal of life
Insatiate burn for fame and dare the strife.
No coward fear they know, while stands erect
The mighty oak with boughs umbrageous decked;
Majestic, high, with knotted trunk, the Queen
Of woods! Hereafter, o’er the waters seen
’Mid the dim midnight of the sounding storm
Aloft ’twill rear the terrors of its form;
In vain the roaring surges round it break,
In vain the winds their uncurbed vengeance wreak,
Throned on such pow’rs, surrounded by the sea,
The circling waves have scarce one fear for thee.
Thou know’st not ills that towns besieged await,
When hostile columns thunder at the gate;
Pitch their dread camp with fatal ramparts round,
And with fierce arms enclose the leaguered ground.
Such is to thee the base of lasting fame,To Heav’n Britannia still the dearest name!Gladly I view the glories of the fight,Perpetual witnesses of deathless might,To show, bright conqueress, nations yet to be,What dared, what did the mistress of the sea.
Such is to thee the base of lasting fame,
To Heav’n Britannia still the dearest name!
Gladly I view the glories of the fight,
Perpetual witnesses of deathless might,
To show, bright conqueress, nations yet to be,
What dared, what did the mistress of the sea.
’Mid these the day with praise eternal blestEarns memory’s tribute most, when, direful pest,Denouncing ruin to the world, while sheDared grasp the sceptre of the unconquer’d sea,Wild with new license, mad with hatred’s heatFrance, grieved and humbled, viewed her ruined fleet!Saw how all hopes one fatal wound could marWhen well-manned squadrons armed their prows for war!When the sky trembled, and o’er Ushant’s tideRed glared the smoke and sickly light supplied.
’Mid these the day with praise eternal blest
Earns memory’s tribute most, when, direful pest,
Denouncing ruin to the world, while she
Dared grasp the sceptre of the unconquer’d sea,
Wild with new license, mad with hatred’s heat
France, grieved and humbled, viewed her ruined fleet!
Saw how all hopes one fatal wound could mar
When well-manned squadrons armed their prows for war!
When the sky trembled, and o’er Ushant’s tide
Red glared the smoke and sickly light supplied.
I see the conquered lines, what time proud SpainWith tattered sailcloths thickly strewed the main;How Cadiz quailed when back the shattered fleetSought, in the port it left, a safe retreat.Why should I tell what smile of Vict’ry beamed,When Rhine’s fair wave with Belgic slaughter gleamed;When humbled waters tow’rds the sea it sped,Mad that its mouths with native blood were red,While England’s thunders rolled above its rocky bed?
I see the conquered lines, what time proud Spain
With tattered sailcloths thickly strewed the main;
How Cadiz quailed when back the shattered fleet
Sought, in the port it left, a safe retreat.
Why should I tell what smile of Vict’ry beamed,
When Rhine’s fair wave with Belgic slaughter gleamed;
When humbled waters tow’rds the sea it sped,
Mad that its mouths with native blood were red,
While England’s thunders rolled above its rocky bed?
I see afar the domes that crown the tide,Where Thames uncounted sails in triumph glide:Here, the brave souls whom manly courage droveThrough the deep’s perils in a holy loveOf country, find in thy maternal breastTheir toil rewarded and their daring blest!Dismissed at length from duty nobly doneThey wane in quiet ’neath the noontide sun,Recal the dangers of their byegone wars,And boast appealing to their manhood’s scars.
I see afar the domes that crown the tide,
Where Thames uncounted sails in triumph glide:
Here, the brave souls whom manly courage drove
Through the deep’s perils in a holy love
Of country, find in thy maternal breast
Their toil rewarded and their daring blest!
Dismissed at length from duty nobly done
They wane in quiet ’neath the noontide sun,
Recal the dangers of their byegone wars,
And boast appealing to their manhood’s scars.
On in thy race of glory, conqueress, on!For every age thy sea-girt realm is won!Think not the fortress which thy shores uprear,Nor thy rock bulwarks shall inspire such fear,Nor the brave thousands who obey thy call,With thee to rise, or not survive thy fall,As the dread thunders of that untamed host:Thy fleet, Britannia, is thy proudest boast;Awful, majestic, firm; its flag unfurl’dShall long wave lordly o’er the conquered world;Hateful to foes for triumphs yet to be,The rightful Sovereign of the subject sea.—Ed.]
On in thy race of glory, conqueress, on!
For every age thy sea-girt realm is won!
Think not the fortress which thy shores uprear,
Nor thy rock bulwarks shall inspire such fear,
Nor the brave thousands who obey thy call,
With thee to rise, or not survive thy fall,
As the dread thunders of that untamed host:
Thy fleet, Britannia, is thy proudest boast;
Awful, majestic, firm; its flag unfurl’d
Shall long wave lordly o’er the conquered world;
Hateful to foes for triumphs yet to be,
The rightful Sovereign of the subject sea.—Ed.]